Class I student rescued from drain, parents blame school

Koraput: A Class I student of Mahadeiput Ashram School was recovered from a drain outside the school premises on Thursday. Family members have held the school authorities responsible for the incident while registering a case in the connection.

As per sources, the boy identified as Saroj Bhoi, son of Maheswar Bhoi, a resident of Nandapur in Koraput district was missing since Wednesday. His family members had lodged a missing complaint with the local police.

Later yesterday, Saroj was found in a drain outside the school premises, during a search by his family members. He was immediately rushed to Saheed Laxman Nayak Medical College and Hospital in the district.

Saroj’s mother alleged that someone from the school has beaten up her son. “His condition is not good. He has several signs of injury on his body, including his two hands,” said Saroj’s mother Moti Bhoi.

While the school authorities are silent on the issue, the District Welfare Officer (DWO) Jagannath Soren has refuted the allegation.

“No one has beaten up the child, he might have slipped during an attempt to jump the boundary wall of the school. I have not received any information that the child was missing. It is today that I came to know the child has been hospitalised,” said the DWO.

On the other hand police said that an investigation on the complaint is underway.

“The child has been hospitalised with a fractured hand. A case in this regard has been registered at Koraput Sadar police station. The truth will be known only after investigation,” said Koraput SDPO Balabhadra Deep.